Apparatus for handling clay pipe



:/W'HENWARE APPARATUS Aug. 25. 1925.

W. MAYHEW ET'AL.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING CLAY PIPE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed July 14, 1924 Afro/wn 2f @MSU-12 @msx AHTHENWARE APPARATUS Augi 25, 1925. A1,550,706

w. MAYHEW Er AL APPARATUS FOR HANDLING CLAY PIPE Original Filed July 14. 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 36 d? l l 'HT TURA/Ey @Lire-cc eroga marasma/Aas APPARATUS Patented Aug. 25, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER MAYHEW AND ARCI-IIE T. BAXTER, OF TORONTO, OHIO.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, VALT'ELR MAYHEW and ARGHIE T. BAXTER, citizens of the United States of America, and residents of Toronto, county of Jeerson, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Handling Clay Pipe, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates broadly to clay pipe handling apparatus and more specifically to a mechanism for reversing or inverting sewer pipe in its plastic or green state preparatory to kiln drying or burning.

The primary object off the invention is to provide a simple and practical carrier and reversing apparatus whereby in the manufacture of clay pipe having a socket end, the newly molded pipe is taken up, or lifted, from the forming bench or platform, is carried rearward from said bench, is inverted, and is deposited on the floor with its socket end uppermost.

In describing the: invention in detail, reference is herein .ha'd to the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of the invention, showing the same positioned for lifting a newly molded, or green, pipe fro-m the forming bench;

Figure 2 is an elevation of a portion of one side of the suspension frame or carrier;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the invention;

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation, the section being taken on line 4 4, Fig. 3;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the invention showing the control means; and- Figure 6 is a sectional elevation, the section being taken substantially on line 6 6, Fig. 3

Referring to said drawings, 1 indicates substantially horizontal parallel bars which occupy elevated positions and constitute a trackway for a carriage consisting off a frame 2, axles 3 borne by said frame, and wheels 4 carried by said axles, said wheels being mounted for travel on said trackway.

Fixed to and depending from the side of the carriage frame 2 are the upper ends of oppositely disposed suspension members 5 which have mounted for vertical adjustment in the lower end portions thereof journal blocks 6 and 7; and journaled for rotary movement in said blocks 6 and 7 are trunnions B which .we .rigidly carried by APPARATUS FOR HANDLING CLAY PIPE.

i Application led July 14, 1924, Serial' No. 725,955. Renewed July 14, 1925.

the middle portions of oppositely disposed parallel bars 9, said trunnions being herein shown as having their inner ends 8a threaded into firmly seated relation to said bars.

Disposed in partially embracing relation to each of the bars 9 and slidable on the latter is a clevis-shaped head-piece 10, said head pieces being carried by the opposite ends of a bar 11 which extends transversely from one of said bars to the other. Mounted upon one sideof said transversebar is a pipe carrier which, in the present embodiment, is shown as consisting of two relatively spaced parallel bars 12. In the operative position thereof, best shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, said bars extend vertically and have at their opposite ends horizontal outwardly directed terminal arms. Said bars 12 are so mounted on the bar 11 that one set or pair of arms 12a occupies a position more remote from the bar 11 than the opposite pair 12b, as will hereinafter be more fully explained. Also carried by the bar 11, but having an opposite o-r reverse arrangement on the latter, is a pipe carrier consisting of a pair of bars 13 having opposite terminal arms 13a and 13b arranged in pairs, said bars 13 being so mounted that the set or pair of arms 13a thereof most remote from the bar 11 are carried at the end adjacent to the arms 12b of the bars 12. Thus, when the apparatus occupies the position shown in Fig. 1, wherein the arms 12a are but slightly elevated above the iioor level, the arms 13b are disposed at such a greater elevation that they are adapted to closely underlie the flange 14*1 of the platen 14 which is seated upon the elevated pipe forming bench or platform 15. The arms 12a and 13a are spaced from the arms 12" and 13", respectively, a distance substantially corresponding ing to the length of the pipe 16 which is to be handled, so that when the flange 14a of the platen 14 receives the arms 12El or 13a thereunder, the opposite arms 12b or 13", as the case may be, are received in closely overlying relation to the flange 17a of the platen 17 which overlies the upper end of the pipe 16 as shown in Fig. 1.

Keyed or otherwise secured upon one of the trunnions 8 is a collar 31 which, when the supporting bar 11 occupies the position in which the carrier bars 12 and 13 are disposed substantially vertically, has provided in its circumference two oppositely disposed sgckets er gel' 1.8. A vertically movable pin 19 is arranged for movement into and out of the uppermost socket and is adapted, when seated in the latter, to maintain the trunnions against rotary movement in their bearings. Said pin 19 is vertically movable in a keeper plate 2D carried by the adjacent suspension member 5 and has connected to its upper end, as through the intermediacy of a pivoted link 21, an end of a pivoted lever 22 whereby it may be elevated to inoperative position against the resistance offered by a suitable arranged tension member, as the spring 23, which acts to normally hold said pin depressed.

Carried by one of the journal blocks, as the block G, is a plate or arm 24 which eX- tends rearward and has pivotally mounted thereon a lever 25 constituting a part of a brake mechanism whereby may be controlled the speed of rotation of the truunions and the parts borne by the latter, as will hereinafter be more fully described. Said brake mechanism includes a brake band 26 which partially encircles a drum 27 carried by the adjacent t-runnion 8, and means operated by movements of said lever 25 for actuating said band into and outof contracted frictionexerting relation to said drum 27. lVhile any other suitable actuating means may be employed, 1 have shown in the drawing for illustrative purposes only a more or less common type of mechanism which includes a lever 23 pivoted intermediate its end on the plate 24 and having the opposite ends r of said brake band 26 suitably attached thereto. Said lever 28 has operatively associated therewith a pivoted lever 29 which, in turn, is connected by a link 3() with the adjacent end of the operating lever 25. As is obvious, movement of the. lever 2S on its pivot, effected through the intermediate link 30 and lever 29 by hand shifting of the lever 25, acts to contract and expand said brake band 26 with respect to the drum 27 according to the direction of the applied movement.

1n practice, when it is desired to remove a molded pipe 16 from the elevated forming bench 15 and to deposit the same on the floor in the required inverted position, the carriage is moved along its trackway to a point adjacent to the bench, at which point the operator slightly lowers the carriage frame and t-he mechanism which is suspended from the latter, such lowering being required to position the lower arms of the then forward pipe carrier 12 or 13, as the case may be, at a level in which they may be entered beneath the iiange` 14-a at opposite sides of the lower platen 111. Then. holding the carriage supported portion of the apparatus in such lowered position, the carriage is advanced to present said lower arms in the position mentioned and the upper arms in more or less closely overlying relation to the flange 17u of the upper platen 17. This lowering of the carriage supported portion of the apparatus is` efected by any suitable means, a preferred means shown in the drawings comprising a. hand operated lever 32 which is pivoted intermediate its ends upon one of the suspension members 5. The upper end of said lever has pivotal connection with a horizontal rod or bar 33 which has its opposite ends pivotally carried by the ends of depending crank-arms 34, one of said arms being iiXed upon each of the axles 3 of the carriage. The spindles 3a of said axles, upon which the wheels et are carried, are directed through eccentric disks 38 which are rigidly carried by the axles and which are disposed for rotary movement in circular holes 39 provided therefor in the car lage frame 2. The arrangement is such that the weight suspended from said axles acts normally to maintain said mechanism in an intermediate position whence it may be slightly raised or lowered,

occasion may require, by swinging movement of the lever 32.

Following the positioning of the foremost pipe carrier with its arms in straddling relation to the pipe, as described, the lever 32 is swung either forward or backward to effect slight elevation of the pipe carrying mechanism, lifting` the pipe and the platens clear of the forming bench. The carriage is then free to be moved back along its trackway, with the pipe supported by the foremost pipe carrier. Having so moved said carriage back to. or adjacent to, the point at which it is desired to deliver the pipe on the floor. the pipe carriers 12 and 13 are bodily moved rearwardly by hand, the heads 10 of the supporting bar 11 sliding upon the horizontal bars 9, until said heads abut suitably located adjustable collars 35 carried by said bars 9, thus shifting the center of gravity of the weight borne by the trunnions 8 to the extent that, when the locking` pin 19 is withdrawn from its socket or seat 18, the carriers promptly rotate rearwardly, carrying the supported pipe upward and overto a reversed upright position. in which latter the locking pin 19 again seats. The carriers are then lowered to seat the then lowermost platen upon the floor, following which the carriage is shifted forward to disengage the arms from the platens. The apparatus is then in condition to have the pipe carriers returned to their normal centered position on the bars 9 and to be returned to the forming bench for taking up another pipe. So returned. the carrier which remained idle during the previous carrying and reversing operation becomes operative.

The brake mechanism hereinbefore described is utilized to control the speed of the pipe reversing rotary movement and to presneu-f. semestri?) vent such violent engagement of the platen 12b or 13b, as the case may be, with the floor as would otherwise occur.

Adjust-able collars 36 are carried on the ends of the bars 9 opposite those ends which carry the collars 35.

Rest blocks 37 are suitably mounted upon the opposite sides of the bar 11, the same being preferably of concave form and designed to support or cradle the pipe without injur f to the latter while it is being carried over to inverted posi-tion in the rotation of the pipe carriers.

It will be noted that, following the de.- livery of the pipe on the floor in an inverted position, the opposite pipe carrier occup-ies the forward position in which,v it is adapted to be employed for taking up from the platform the next succeeding pipe which is to be reversed.

What is claimed is:-

1. In a pipe handling apparatus, a track, a carriage movable o-n th-e track, a pipe carrier, means to support the carrier from the carriage so as to permit of sliding and pivotalv movement of the carrier relative' to the carriage, means to effect raising or lowering movement of the carriage relative te the track and thereby corresponding movement of the carrier, and two sets of pipe engaging means associated with the carrier and arranged so that when one set is discharging a pipe the other set is simultaneously moved into position to engage a further pipe, and manually cont-rolled means for releasably holding the carrier against pivot-al movement.

2. In a pipe handling apparatus, a track, a carriage movable thereon, a pair of trunnions journaled on the carriage, a pair of bars rigidly connected to the trunnions, stops on the bars, heads slidable on the bars and engageable with said stops, a carrier rigidly connected to the heads, pipe engaging means connected to the carrier, braking means associated with one of the trunnions, and latching means to releasably hold one of the trunnions against turning, said heads upon sliding thereof engaging the stops of said bars and upon release olf the latching means effecting automatic turning of the bars, and thereby the carrier, about the trunnions through the action of gravity.

3. In a pipe handling apparatus, a carrier, pipe-engaging means thereon, pivotal means, and means to connect the carrier to the pivotal means so as to permit the carrier to have sliding movement independent'of the pivotal means whereby such sliding movement shifts the center of gravity relative to the pivotal means to thereby effect automatic reversal of the pipe.

4. In a pipe handling apparatus, a carrier, pipe-engaging means thereon, pivotal means, means to connect the carrier to the pivotal means so as to permit the carrier to have sliding movement independent of the pivotal means whereby such sliding movement shifts the center of gravity relative to the pivotal means `to thereby effect automatic reversal of the pipe, and releasable means to latch the carrier against movement about the pivotal means.

5. In a pipe handling apparatus, a pipe carrier, means to permit pivotal movement of the carrier, and means to permit movement of the carrier independent of the pivotal means so as to shift the center of gravity of the carrier relative to the pivotal means and effect automatic movement of the carrier about the pivotal means to reverse the position of the pipe.

6. In a. pipe handling apparatus, a carrier, means to pivotally mount the carrier, a pair of independent pipe-engaging means, and means to connect said pipe-engaging means to the carrier whereby upon pivotal movement thereof through 180 the pipe-engaging means will be successively disposed in pipeengaging positions.

7. In a pipe handling apparatus, apivoted carrier, and a pair of substantially U-shaped pipe engaging means on the carrier arranged back to back and in oset relation and with their free ends disposed to engage end por'- tions to the pipe, said pipe engaging means being disposed so that the pivotal means is to one side of the center of the longitudinal axes thereof and to one side of the longitudinal aXis of the pipe, whereby upon movement of the carrier through 180 the pipe engaging means will be successively disposed in pipe engaging positions.

8. In a pipe handling apparatus, a pivoted carrier, and a pair of substantially U-shaped pipe engagingmeans on the carrier arranged back to back and with their free ends disposed to engage end portions of the pipe.

9. In a pipe handling apparatus, pipe enganing means, means to raise and lower said means, pivotal means for the pipe engaging means, and means topermit bodily shifting of the pipe engaging means relative to the pivotal means so as to allow automatic movement of the pipe about the pivotal means through the action of gravity.

10. In a pipe handling apparatus, pipe engaging means, means to raise and lower said means, pivotal means for the pipe engaging means, means to permit bodily shifting of the pipe engaging means relative -to the pivotal means so as to allow automatic movement of the pipe about the pivotal means through the action of gravity, and releasable means to control the movement of the pipe engaging mea-ns about the pivotal means.

11. In a pipe handling apparatus, sets of pipe engaging means, pivotal means therefor, and means to relate each set of pipe engaging means to each other and to the pivotal means whereby to successively present the respective series in pipe-engaging positions upon movement thereof about the pivotal means.

l2. In a pipe handling apparatus, sets of pipe engaging means, pivotal means therefor, means to relate each set of pipe engaging means to each other and to the pivotal means whereby to successively present the respective series in pipe-engaging positions upon movement thereof about the pivotal means, and latohing means `for the pipeengaging means initially manually releasable and upon such release permitting said pivotal movement and subsequently automatically relatching the pipe-engaging mea-ns upon predetermined pivotal movement thereof.

18. In a pipe handling apparatus, a carriage, a pipe carrier, pipe-engaging means on the carrier, means to connect the carrier to the carriage for both pivotal and sliding movements relative thereto, and means to effect vertical movement of the carrier to raise the pipe.

let. In a pipe handling apparatus, a pipe carrier, pipe engaging means connected to the carrier, and means to mount the carrier for pivotal movement and also movement independent of the pivotal movement, whereby upon such second movement the carrier will automatically and through the action of gravity have pivotal movement.

15. In a pipe handling apparat-us, a carrier, means to pivotally mount the carrier, and two sets of oppositely disposed pipeengaging means on the carrier, said pipeengaging means being relative-ly ofset to dispose same in diierent planes, the pivotal point of the carrier being to one side of the center of the longitudinal a-Xis of the pipeengaging means.

In testimony whereof we aix our signatures.

TvVi-LL'IER MAYHEW. ARCHIE T. BAXTER. 

